Losing a significant amount of weight is a huge accomplishment. Whether you’ve attained your goal through bariatric surgery or through diet and exercise, you should be proud of yourself for taking this big step toward a healthier and more fulfilling life. Unfortunately, many of those who have lost a significant amount of weight are left with a less than ideal body shape or with excess skin and tissue that hampers their enjoyment of their new body. Have you recently undergone extreme weight loss and are unsatisfied with the resulting condition of your body? Here is how body contouring with Long Beach-based plastic surgeon Dr. Waltzman can help.
Extreme weight loss usually consists of losing fifty or more pounds. Most people can lose lesser amounts of weight without being left with excess amounts of skin, but it depends on the person. Genetics, age, body shape, past weight loss and gain, and other factors can play a large role in skin elasticity and how the body responds to weight loss. Most of those who lose in excess of fifty pounds are left with tissue and skin that sags, folds, or is otherwise loose. Others find that the proportions of their body after extreme weight loss are less than ideal as people lose weight in different parts of their body in a unique fashion. Some women may lose almost all of the volume in their breasts, for example, but still have excess fat in their lower body, resulting in a pear shape.
No two body contouring procedures are exactly the same and Dr. Waltzman ensures he is performing each procedure to meet the unique needs of his patients. Depending on the wanted goals, a body contouring procedure can include any combination of the following:
Some people have areas of fat that do not respond to diet or exercise and remain even after extreme weight loss is achieved. In these cases, liposuction may be used to suck out the excess fat and create a more balanced silhouette. This is especially beneficial for those who have asymmetry in their bodies after weight loss and are worried about a top-heavy or pear-shaped appearance.
Skin stretches to accommodate the amount of volume it needs to contain. When that volume is lost, many people do not retain the elasticity in their skin to adapt to the new shape, which results in loose or hanging skin. With body contouring, this excess skin can be removed via surgery. Though patients are left with a scar in areas where the skin has been removed, this fades over time and most patients find that it is a worthwhile tradeoff.
Many times, the simple removal of excess skin or pockets of fat is not enough to rejuvenate certain areas of the body after extreme weight loss. A ‘lift’ can be performed on many different parts of the body including arms, thighs, and buttocks. This involves removing excess skin and fat while tightening the tissue to address sagging or drooping. In the case of a buttock lift, fat from other parts of the body can also be injected to create a more lifted, firm appearance.
Tummy tucks or abdominoplasty addresses a protruding or sagging stomach by tightening abdominal muscles, removing excess skin, and removing stubborn pockets of fat via liposuction. Tummy tucks are common for those women who have undergone pregnancy and childbirth but are also popular for both men and women who have lost a lot of weight as the stomach often remains a problem area even after their goal weight is achieved.
The breasts are one of the most common areas of concern for women after significant weight loss as they often lose volume and sag or droop. With a breast lift, a more perky appearance can be restored by removing skin or tissue and repositioning the breast and nipple. In some cases, women will also want to have implants placed to restore volume that was lost.
Have you recently lost a significant amount of weight and are unhappy with excess skin or areas of your body that droop or sag? Schedule a consultation with Dr. Waltzman today to see how body contouring can help!
